Effective Hull paint?

SLyle01

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2019
Messages
138
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
Aurelia
After hauling-out our new 2019 R27 O/B last week for winterizing, we were surprised at the buildup of barnacles and 'whiteworms' under the swim platform on the stern, trim tabs and inside the engine mount flanges. This may account for some of the 5-6 mph loss of speed underway (getting 22mph vs. at delivery we saw 27-28, at 4400 RPM).

We had "good" hull paint applied by Pocket Yachts last Spring -and had Zinc-painted the trim tabs as well. Overall the hull looked pretty good, with a scattering of barnacles. My friend's C28 docked in the same waters, looked much cleaner, probably due to having only the swim platform in the stern area.

It's either expensive -or a real chore to DIY, to scrape & clean all the mess around the stern in prep. for repainting next Spring. Does any bottom or zinc-based metals paint really work well in brackish/creek waters?
 
I have the same issue on my Pocket Yacht bought R-23 last year and again this year. Last year I used a spray on anti fouling paint on the trim tabs and motor mount. The trim tabs I might as well not bothered, I did see a little improvement on the motor mount. I called Pocket Yacht for the brand and model of bottom paint they use and bought a gal. in prep for painting the bottom this spring. After seeing the bottom again this year, and comments from the marina staff as they power washed the bottom, I'm returning this paint. I'll research, and buy the best bottom paint I can find, even if it's $400 per gal.
As the marina said, you get what you pay for.
 
Many times it depends on the water you are in, the temperature and sunlight. I have been in waters in the PNW, many of the rivers and canals and cruised the East Coast. I use Pettit Vivid ablative paint on the hull and brush on cold galvanized to the running gear. I will get some growth when I sit too long, but it brushes off quite easily. I get very very few barnacles.
 
SgtAlf":2l41aymm said:
I have the same issue on my Pocket Yacht bought R-23 last year and again this year. Last year I used a spray on anti fouling paint on the trim tabs and motor mount. The trim tabs I might as well not bothered, I did see a little improvement on the motor mount. I called Pocket Yacht for the brand and model of bottom paint they use and bought a gal. in prep for painting the bottom this spring. After seeing the bottom again this year, and comments from the marina staff as they power washed the bottom, I'm returning this paint. I'll research, and buy the best bottom paint I can find, even if it's $400 per gal.
As the marina said, you get what you pay for.
What paint did Pocket Yacht use? I used Petit Vivid ablative paint on my last boat and after a season there was no build up on the hull at all, nothing, the prop was another story. This year I put my new boat in the water for 6 weeks with no bottom paint on the boat. It had a ton of growth on it, enough to slow the top speed down on the boat by 12 mph. This winter my new boat will be getting a coating of the Petit Vivid. Having said that, I know other folks who have used the Petit Vivid in other waters and have not had good luck with it.
 
I have good luck with Pettit Trinidad SR, both in Southern California and Washington. The warmer water in California stimulates growth but Trinidad SR does a good job of keeping it to a minimum. In Washington I get 4 years out of it, in California 2 to 3 years. I use Barnacle Barrier on the underwater metal, doesn't last as long as Trinidad but that is easy to redo once a year.
 
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